Archive for April 2015

Fresh off the heels of Extreme Rules last night, WWE will be back at it tonight and with a short schedule to promote the next Pay Per View, we can probably expect some big things in the works for tonight.

5) With Daniel Bryan out of action, I expect some kind of announcement about the future of the Intercontinental Championship. If not tonight, then sometime soon I expect the title to be vacated and a new champion crowned.

4) Potential face turn for Cesaro & Tyson Kidd. Despite being just thrown together, the two have been phenomenal together and both guys are incredibly over and with New Day stealing the titles from them at Extreme Rules last night, it makes sense for them to turn face and seek revenge against the inferior heel team that robbed them. And with the Usos out of commission for months to come, the spot of top face tag team is up for grabs.

3) Return of King of the Ring. WWE has announced that the finals of a 2015 King of the Ring Tournament would take place Tuesday night, exclusively on the WWE Network. That would mean that there will be some qualifiers / preliminary round matchups taking place tonight on Raw. Winning King of the Ring generally doesn’t mean much and any time somebody uses it to undergo a gimmick shift and start calling them King whatever after winning annoys me, but it usually generates some very good and unique matchups. I’m predicting Bad News Barrett wins the crown and scepter. Check out the brackets here.

2) What is next for Bray Wyatt? – After more cryptic promos in coming weeks, expect Wyatt’s next opponent to be revealed. I’ve read a lot of speculation that it’s either Ryback or Roman Reigns. As you’ll read in my explanation for #1, I’m expecting it to be Ryback, which intrigues me. It wouldn’t be my first choice. I think Wyatt is too over and would force the crowd to be behind him rather than Ryback and might set back Ryback’s character development if the crowd turns against him again. As we saw in 2013, Ryback as a heel is not a good choice.

1) Announcement of Seth Rollins next challenger for the WWE Championship. All of the speculation that I’ve seen has pointed toward a rematch between Rollins and Orton at Payback or perhaps a Triple Threat between Rollins, Orton and Kane. However, the trailer that aired last night at Extreme Rules featured Roman Reigns talking about getting revenge for somebody stealing his moment, which to me can only mean Reigns taking on Seth Rollins. Rumors abound that it could be Reigns vs. Wyatt up next while Rollins takes on Orton again or both Orton and Kane, but I’m leaning more towards thinking it could be Rollins defending against Reigns and Orton one-on-one against Kane.

They announce Rusev vs. Cena in an “I Quit” Match for the United States Championship at Payback, only 3 weeks away. Gee, I wonder who is going to win that one. (Insert Sarcasm, obviously Cena never says “I Quit”)

The Steel Cage is lowered and a highlight video replays the Orton / Rollins rivalry and reviews the stipulations. In case you didn’t already know, the RKO is banned in this match. The outcome isn’t much in doubt in my mind. I’m fully expecting Rollins to win due to outside interference. If you’ve never watched a cage match, you’re probably thinking “How can there be outside interference in a cage match?” Well, there is always outside interference in a Steel Cage Match and the more they try to make it seem like the cage match will prevent interference, the more interference there usually is.

Here comes Kane, the “Guardian of the Gate”. Kind of a lame thing to add a “Guardian of the Gate” to the match, but it has greatly enhanced the storyline. I’ve been glued to my seat every time Kane has went after Rollins the last couple of weeks on Raw and Smackdown.

Orton enters the cage first. That looks like a pretty big gap in between the sides of the cage over in that corner. Here comes the champion with no J & J Security. They’ll show up soon enough, I’m sure. Kane locks the doors, Eden does the announcing. I’m fine with the women announcers, but Eden and JoJo don’t really seem very good at it to me. It’s not the same as that deep rich rumble that guys like Howard Finkel and Michael Buffer used to produce.

Match is on and Rollins tries to escape early, but Orton quickly catches him and pulls him back down. Rollins elbows Orton in the face and pummels him in the corner. Irish whip into the opposite corner, Orton explodes out of the corner with a Clothesline. Rollins tries to escape again, but Orton pulls him down. Pulled him into perfect position for the RKO, but can’t use it tonight. Orton lays in some punches and kicks as Rollins oversells. Rollins tries to whip Orton across the ring. Orton ends up whipping Rollins upside down into the corner. Orton passes up the perfect opportunity for the Garvin Stomp and instead gets in two stomps to the abdominals and catapults Rollins into the corner. Rollins clings to the side of the cage and tries to climb out. Orton cuts him off and pins him in the corner and climbs up to the middle turnbuckle and tries to lay in some punches, but Rollins charges out of the corner and Powerbombs Orton into the opposite corner. Near fall. Rollins tries to go out the door. Orton cuts him off. Rollins rams Orton head first into the side of the cage. Near fall. Orton oversells. Rollins stomps his head a couple of times. Orton sits in the corner while Rollins kicks him a few times and chokes him with his boot. Rollins pulls Orton up and rams him into the side of the cage again.

Rollins plays to the crowd and taunts Orton and rams him into the side of the cage again. Rollins mounts Orton and lays in some punches. Rollins stalks around and tries to figure out what he wants to do. He tries to climb out and Orton catches him. Fight on top of the ropes. Orton hops down and pulls Rollins down. Whip into the ropes and Rollins counters into a Diving Tackle around Orton’s neck. Rollins hits a Stinger Splash in the corner. Rollins slaps Orton around the back of the head and taunts Kane now, saying he’s doing it on his own. Turns around and charges Orton. Orton moves and hurls Rollins into the side of the cage. Both men down on their knees for a breather. Now trading punches. Now trading Headbutts and kicks. Rollins with a Spinning Thrust Kick. Orton throws Rollins into the cage again. Orton whips Rollins into the ropes and goes for his signature Powerslam. Rollins catches the ropes to stop himself and counter. Rollins tries to climb out. Orton cuts him off. Battle on the top rope. Rollins knocks Orton down. Orton lands on his feet. Rollins dives off the top rope and hits Orton with a Flying Knee Smash to the side of the head. Near fall. Rollins climbing again. Rollins reaches the top. Orton after him. Rollins sits down on top of the cage. Orton climbs up beside him. Both men sitting on top of the cage. Trading punches.

Back down the top rope. Orton Headbutt. Rollins knocks Orton down. Rollins dives. Orton catches him in a Powerslam. Near fall. Orton takes Rollins to the ropes. Sets up for Rope Hang DDT. Rollins counters into Schoolboy. Nothing doing. Rollins Superkick to Orton on his knees. Near fall. Rollins climbing. Orton down. Rollins up and over. Orton catches him by the hair. J & J Security arrive. Told you so. Orton pulls Rollins back in. Awesome Superplex with Orton standing on the top rope and Rollins’ feet hanging from the top of the cage. Orton covers. Near fall. J & J want Kane to let them in the cage. “It’s time,” Noble says. Kane refuses. Mercury climbing up the side of the cage. Noble up the other. Orton throws Rollins into both sides of the cage, using him to knock both Noble and Mercury down, keeping them out of the cage. Orton goes for the Rope Hang DDT again, but Rollins counters into a Back Body Drop over the top and into the side of the cage. Rollins crawls across the ring and tries to climb up. Orton catches him and crotches him on the top rope.

Orton goes to the door, decides not to ask Kane to open it. Kane glares at Orton. Orton hits Rope Hang DDT on Rollins from the top rope. Orton plays to the crowd instead of trying to leave. Starts calling for the RKO. Instead, he hits the Pedigree. Rollins kicks out for a super close near fall.

Random Daniel Bryan Yes Chants from the crowd.

Rollins crawls to the door. Orton stands over him. Sets up for the Punt to the head. Orton goes for the Punt. Rollins moves at the last second. Enziguri to Orton. Rollins asks Kane to open the door. Kane opens it. Rollins crawling to the ropes. Trying to pull himself out. Orton catches him by the hair. Pulls him back to the middle of the ring. Modified Backbreaker. Kane leaves the door hanging open. Orton surveys the situation. Starts to climb out. Kane shuts the door and refuses to let Orton out. Orton and Kane argue. Rollins Dropkick, knocks Orton into the door, knocking it open and knocking Kane down on the floor. Rollins climbing out. Orton catches him. Kane back up, slams the door shut on both Orton and Rollins’ heads. Kane snaps. Kane taking off his tie. J & J and Kane all climbing in the ring now. Kane going after Rollins. J & J standing in between, ordering Kane to go after Rollins. Double Chokeslam on J & J Security.

Kane threatens to grab Rollins by the throat, instead grabs Orton. Chokeslam for Orton. Rollins crawling over Mercury and to the door. Kane catches Rollins by the boot, pulls him back to the middle of the ring. Chokeslam for Rollins. Might as well Chokeslam the referee so he doesn’t feel left out. Everyone else got one. Kane ripped his pants. Drapes Rollins over Orton. Kane starts to leave. Referee makes the count. Orton kicks out at two. Kane snaps and goes after Orton. Goes for the Tombstone Piledriver. Counter. RKO to Kane. Rollins RKO on Orton. Rollins crawls out and wins.

Great match. I was glued to the TV from start to finish. The interference was well placed, though it did overpower the match at the end, but everyone was into it. Surprising RKO from Rollins at the end. We all knew what was coming and they still found a way to surprise us with the finish. Very nicely done. Great ending to a somewhat mediocre PPV, but a great Main Event.

Randy Orton catches Kane backstage and says The Authority is just using him and that he knows who the real Kane is. Typical blah blah moment. I’m still looking forward to the match though.

Bo Dallas comes out. Could have survived just fine without seeing his lame ass tonight. He calls the audience stinky and says they need a shower. Then he gets mad that they aren’t letting him talk without yelling over him and tells them to shut up and Bolieve. Ryback interrupts. Bo fights him off and plays to the crowd. Ryback hits a Spinebuster and then the Meat Hook Clothesline. Now the Shellshock. Time for Bo to Bo-LEAVE.

Another commercial for all the new shows on the WWE Network this week. I am kind of excited for the King of the Ring tournament coming back. Presumably, there will be some King of the Ring matches on Raw tomorrow with the finals on the show they’re putting on Tuesday on the Network.

Roman Reigns takes on Big Show in a Last Man Standing Match and I will be genuinely surprised if Reigns does not go over Big Show in this one. We saw earlier the trailer for Payback, which pointed toward Reigns vs. Rollins.

Trade punches to start. Reigns off the ropes, Big Show knocks him down with a Shoulder Block and antagonizes the crowd. More trading punches. I expect the trading punches to be like 80-90 percent of this match. Big Show knocks Reigns down again and for some reason the referee thinks he needs to loudly count Reigns down already. It’s only a minute into the match, ref, calm down. Reigns knocks Big Show out to the floor and gets a table out from under the ring. Big Show punches Reigns in the back and steals the table and shoves it back under the ring. That was pretty funny. No tables, Big Show says. Reigns rams Big Show head first into the ring post, but Big Show stays on his feet. Reigns with the Bomb Dropkick on the ring apron as Big Show leans against the side of the ring trying to recover. Reigns pulls the table back down and sets it up. Big Show throat shoves Reigns into the barricade and smashes the table in half with his hands. Reigns gets a Kendo Stick and gets in a few shots before Big Show slams him into the post. Referee counting again, but no chance that’s the end. Save your breath, pal.

Big Show breaks the kendo stick in half. He doesn’t want weapons in this one. I feel like we’ve seen Big Show do that with weapons in matches before. Big Show drops Reigns’ throat first across the ropes and another pointless count from the referee while they catch their breath. Reigns out to the floor, returns with a chair. Reigns gets in several shots, forces Big Show down to his knees and then down to the mat. Reigns with a DDT onto the chair and Reigns is overselling his injuries a bit too early. Big Show back up, Reigns goes out and pulls out two more tables and puts them in the ring. Reigns goes back in and walks into a KO Punch. Reigns back up, Big Show has a table set up and tries to Chokeslam him through it. Reigns counters and ends up Samoan Dropping Big Show through the table. Reigns back up, Big Show rolls out under the ropes and drops to his feet on the floor rather than getting back up. Big Show back in the ring, connects with a Spear on Reigns and Big Show is pumped up now. Still not gonna end the match with that, obviously. Table got set up in the corner at some point. Big Show knocks Reigns down and goes up to the middle turnbuckle and jumps off with a Swagger Bomb. Reigns oversells, but beats the count and gets back to his feet at 8. Big Show out to the ring apron and up to the top rope, but Reigns crotches him on the top turnbuckle.

Lull in the action as Big Show sells the crotching on the turnbuckle and Reigns goes out to the floor and sets up two more tables side by side beside the post Big Show is setting on. Reigns climbs up beside Big Show and Big Show shrugs him off and knocks him back into the ring. Big Show tries to get up and Reigns comes over and slams him off the top Ric Flair style. Big Show back up, 2 Superman punches in a row, Big Show staggers over near the table in the corner. Reigns goes for a 3rd Superman Punch, but Big Show catches him by the throat. Incredible Chokeslam over the top rope and through the two tables out on the floor.

Reigns sells to the max, but is still back up at 9 as he ping pongs off the barricade and the side of the ring while he tries to keep himself upright. Big Show out to the floor, he takes the top part of the ring steps apart and carries both segments of the steps over to the announce table. He sets the stairs back up in between the announce table and the timekeeper’s table and tells the announcers they need to move. They all agree and start getting out of the way while Big Show takes the top off the table and reads JBL’s notepad, which says “Big Show needs to lose weight.” Kinda funny sidebit. Both men back in the ring, Reigns over near the table in the corner. Big Show mocks Reigns and does a comedic dive at him, which Reigns sidesteps and Big Show rams himself through the table. Both men back up and Reigns hits a Spear, both men down and out again. Reigns back up at 7, Big Show rolls out to the ring apron and drops to his feet on the floor again. I guess he’s too fat and winded to sit back up and get up the hard way. Bi gShow stumbles around over toward the timekeeper and Reigns charges all the way around the ring with a long run and Spears him through part of the barricade. Reigns leans back against the ring as Big Show stumbles back up. Reigns climbs the steps Big Show set up near the announce table. Big Show catches him by the throat and they walk out onto the announce table. Reigns with some Elbows, gets free. Reigns charges up the steps and Spears Big Show off the announce table and they crash through the Spanish Announce Table. Still not the end as both men beat the count. Big Show sits back down for some reason and Reigns overturns the English Announce Table onto him, burying him underneath it for the win.

Strong match with a lot of pops from the crowd, but a typically crappy finish. I don’t think WWE knows how to finish a Last Man Standing Match without the face burying the heel under something or tying them down with rope or duct tape any more.

Naomi comes out with new music to go with her new attitude. I think the Bellas may be almost done with the company, so they may be building Naomi to take over as the top heel diva and work against Charlotte and Paige over the summer. She takes on Nikki Bella for the title tonight and they have to remind us several times that Naomi put Paige out of action and stole her spot in this match.

This is the second interesting heel vs. semi-heel match-up of the night. I guess it is nice to see WWE getting away from the cookie cutter stereotypical babyface vs. heel programs.

Much like the United States Championship match a few minutes ago, I’m gonna stay away from the play-by-play reactions on this one, though I do expect a better match out of Naomi and Nikki than I did out of that Russian Chain tug of war contest.

Naomi scores several near falls early, Nikki hits a highlight as she steals a page from Stardust’s book with the Beautiful Disaster Kick. Brie interferes and kicks Naomi in the face and Nikki hits the Rack Attack for the win. Could have stood to have that match go on a little longer. I was pleasantly surprised by the action in this one. I like Naomi and Cameron’s athleticism and innovation in the ring, though I don’t care much for either character or either of their mic work. Plus, Cameron is kind of a dufus. I still remember her trying to pin Naomi while Naomi was flat on her stomach instead of on her back. The sooner we replace some of these background Divas on the roster now like Cameron and Rosa Mendes with the ladies from NXT, the better.

I do expect Naomi to be the next champion, though I wasn’t expecting it tonight. It should happen soon though.

John Cena takes on Rusev next in a return match from Wrestlemania. This is a Russian Chain Match. WWE claims it is the first televised Russian Chain Match. It’s not. There have been many. I remember at least one Russian Chain Match at the 1991 Great American Bash where Sting fought Nikita Koloff. I’m sure it was a popular match type during the cold war. The cold war / Russia-US relations has given pro wrestling like 5 different generations of bad guys now. This is a match like Reigns vs. Big Show where I expect the crowd to be staunchly against both guys and try to hijack the match.

I’m gonna try to avoid the play-by-play reactions for most of this one because I’m sure it’ll be unexciting for the most part and will likely be aggravating. See, they’re playing tug of war to start the match.

I really like what Cena has been doing lately. He’s been having some very good singles matches in his United States Championship Open Challenges. However, I’m not really feeling this match at all. I find Rusev pretty boring. Some of the other big guys like Cena or Sheamus will actually showcase some athleticism. Rusev just kinda stands there and kicks and stomps people. His only halfway athletic is that rolling senton he does into the corner and I can do that one, so it’s not very impressive.

More tug of war. I think I might as well use this opportunity for another pee break.

Lana starts to go over with the crowd, so Rusev sends her to the back. They continue to tease a break-up of Rusev and Lana. BTW, those two are dating in real life and have a house together in Nashville, if anybody cares about that sort of thing. He may not be very gifted in the ring, but he apparently has other things going for him.

Rusev gets Cena in the Accolade. Cena powers up and rams Rusev into the corner. Finish must be coming up.

Nevermind, Cena finishes breaking free of the Accolade and hits an AA and both men are down, corner lights go off.

Now, they’re touching opposite corners. That’s kind different for this type of match. Cena gets another AA and wins. Cena retains the title.

Cena drops Old Glory from above the ring like Rusev usually does with the Russian flag. Suck it, commie. Hope their program is done now.

New Day is giving an interview as the new champions when they are interrupted by Ambrose and Harper returning to the arena and their Street Fight resumes. Ambrose takes out Harper and all 3 members of New Day with a Diving Elbow Drop off the SUV and they fight back out to the ring.

Back in the ring momentarily. Clothesline takes both men down and they retreat to the floor and start throwing chairs in the ring. 8-10 chairs in the ring and the two men swing the chairs at each other and knock the chairs out of each others hands. Ambrose with a Headlock, Harper fights him off in the corner and Powerbombs him onto some chairs. Only gets a near fall. Harper stacks chairs on Ambrose and this should be good. Ambrose is now buried under 7-8 chairs and Harper goes up to the top rope. Ambrose bails out from under the chair and Armdrag from the top, throws Harper into the chairs. Dirty Deeds in the middle of the ring for the win.

It was kind of interesting that they disappeared and had two matches take place while their match was ongoing, but they could have easily just done that finish first and gotten it out of the way. It wasn’t terrible, but it didn’t really add much to the show having the interruption. Very good match limited by the way it was booked with the long break in the middle in my opinion.

Promo for Payback, featuring Roman Reigns talking about having his moment stolen. Would seem to indicate Rollins vs. Reigns for the WWE title being the Payback Main Event.